[HANASHIR:11372] Re: Volunteer Choir question

[ItaSara <ItaSara...>]

In a message dated 4/19/02 12:45:49 PM, Shawna1000 (at) aol(dot)com writes:

<<  I have a gut feeling about wanting a synagogue choir 
to be open to anyone who wants to sing and comes to rehearsals, regardless of 
talent.  My goal is to create an experience where singers's needs will be 
met, regardless of their level >> 

Shawna, you are in a somewhat difficult situation. I am writing to you as a 
volunteer member for years of a sat. Morning volunteer choir where I am a 
member of the temple, but I am also a cantorial solist at another small 
synagogue as well as a substitute at my own synagogue.

Back in the “old days” (years ago, now) we had a paid choir Friday nights 
and our sat. Morning choir with one professional from Friday night with us on 
Sat. morning. That did not work for me, because as a talented Jewish member 
of the temple, I too wanted to sing Friday night and was not allowed to. I 
also believed that music is how some people feel spiritual moved to 
participate in the temple. I also do not feel that all music and all solos 
are necessary “performance” in the negative sense that some congregants 
seem 
to think it is. Pardon the digression. Anyway,  all changed to the point 
where today there is no choir on Friday night and the cantorial soloist does 
Friday night services on her own. Before the past two cantor/cantorial 
soloists and new rabbi, We used to have a volunteer Friday night choir 
that sang once a month; this was a very successful and satisfying. Those 
volunteers felt like they were contributing and the congregation was in 
favor. That all too has gone by the wayside and many of us miss it. 
    
    The holidays are volunteer, but there are always paid (some non Jewish) 
professionals involved. Members tell me they do not want a professional 
performance, and yet some talented members who want to help out are 
overlooked so the staff can bring in music students, etc. and pay them and 
give them the solos. I was paid as one of the professionals  because our 
former, former cantor wanted to include members who could do the job. And 
that continued I think out of habit more than want.

    In our volunteer choir on Sat. Morning, we used to also have men  and we 
did harmony, etc. We now have no men, I guess because there either are not 
any who want to or this not a committment on their part or the music is just 
not challanging enough (or they are unhappy with the present attitude of the 
staff. )  The music generally has become to some extent simplified  due to 
the push for congregational participation. I usually find a way to harmonize 
when I can, because I cannot take the boredom everyweek. But so much depends 
really on your clergy and board members. We have had a couple volunteers come 
who really could not sing. The choir always tolerated them until this new 
rabbi came. One    volunteers who joined us had many personal problems; this 
was a positive activity for him; he was not a great singer, and it was a lot 
to put up with for choir members as well. The Rabbi was distrubed by it and 
asked me personally not the soloist/choir director (instead of doing it 
himself) to talk to this guy (cause he was a friend and because it was my 
fault for not saying no to him when he wanted to join us). It was a very 
difficult situation. And that is why I say to you that I agree with your 
philosophy below, but there are always problems and you cannot please 
everyone.

In the small synagogue where I now am the soloist, I am trying to be 
eclectic. I hope to involve some of the talented members in the congregation 
when I can. A few weeks ago, a violinist who is a member volunteered and 
accompanied me. It was a very nice service. I try to use music the 
congregation can sing and I try to include new and traditional music. But I 
have the blessing of the spiritual leader there, and I get positive feedback 
from the congregation.   A volunteer choir would be nice; maybe in the 
future. The smaller temple seems less concerned with protocol and one 
up-man-ship than the larger congregation. Sad, but true, at least this has 
been my experience and I share it with you (for better or for worse).

Ellen Lerner
Rochester, Ny.


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